Oh, When the Goats Go Marching In - Reducing the carbon footprint of our waterways

I had to
take a photograph to prove the reality that goats were grazing on the bed of
Elk Grove Creek Friday night. I wasn't the only sojourner to stop and take
note. There was a man and his daughter hiking the bike trail; and a trio of
mom, dad, and young son who'd suddenly pulled out of traffic to spy this
unusual event.

The city of
Elk Grove has channelized creeks running throughout its urbanized center. Those
creeks can suffer overgrowth of trees and plant life that clot and obstruct the
flow of sudden rains. Lately, those creeks are so restricted that it voted to
negotiate with the US Army Corps of Engineers, who oversee waterways, to clear
them out. A staff report stipulated clearance by hand, and using some
acceptable herbicides, including glyphosate (Monsanto's RoundUp), which
I protested.

Decades
ago, I'd seen neighborhood horses chewing their way along Elk Grove Creek at
Emerald Park Drive, near Markofer Elementary School, keeping the creek bed
clear of vegetation. Well, apparently the city has revived that tradition with
goats.

A goatherd was supervising a trip of 700 at the Elk Grove Creek-Laguna
Springs Drive over crossing. He said his name was Ronald, and he was going to
move the goats west of the bridge on Saturday, August 26, 2017. The goats had
obliterated anything green on the east side of the bridge, between the electric
fences that checked their wandering.

The site is
just north of the Capital Reserve, a high-density housing project being built
on the old Capital Nursery grounds. The trail bridge over the freeway also
passes near the WalMart on Elk Grove Boulevard. This agricultural solution is
being applied in the center of the city; State Route 99, the Auto Mall, Civic
Center, and other Elk Grove landmarks are in the immediate neighborhood.

You'll be
able to see this tribe of noble beasts clearing the green along the bike/hiking
trail just west of the Laguna Springs Drive bridge on Saturday. Bring the kids,
but avoid petting and contact with the electric fence. It's a sight to behold,
hearkening back to Elk Grove's agricultural heritage; and, I might add,
reducing our carbon footprint while improving flood control in our urban
streams.